Social Support, Not Bribery: Gyumri's Candidate from the ruling party on Distributing 50,000 Dram

The ruling team must ensure that the elections are conducted within the legal framework. According to the information we have, everything is in compliance with the law. This was stated by the candidate for the mayor of Gyumri from the ruling party, Shirak Governor Hovhannes Harutyunyan, during a conversation with journalists today.

Responding to reports that the ruling party candidate distributed 50,000 drams to citizens before the elections, Hovhannes Harutyunyan did not deny the claims but clarified that these are social support payments that have nothing to do with the elections.

When asked whether distributing money during the election campaign is considered an administrative resource, the candidate replied, "Of course not. For 30 years, people have had survival issues, and many have always applied for aid and received support. If only people had thought about not leaving these individuals hungry for 30 years and provided them with means to live, we wouldn't be hearing such statements now."

In response to a remark that when the mayors of Syunik provided support, it was considered bribery, Hovhannes Harutyunyan reacted: "Absolutely not similar cases. What I'm saying is an ongoing process. It's a work process, it's the function of the governor, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the elections."